Dogs Read Us Better Than We Read Them
One of Dr. Ian Dunbar's favorite jokes begins with a reactive dog owner describing their dog.
"He's fine at home. He's fine in the dog park. He's fine off leash. He's fine with most dogs. But when another dog approaches on leash, he goes ballistic."
Most owners stop the conversation there.
Ian doesn't.
Instead, he interviews the dog.
And the dog says:
"Well, my owner's wonderful. Good breeding. Nice personality. She's great at home. She's great in the dog park. But whenever another dog approaches us on leash, she goes ballistic."
So I try to warn the other dog.
"Stay back! Stay back! She's losing it!"
It's funny because it's true.
Most people think reactivity flows in one direction:
Dog sees trigger → Dog becomes worried → Dog reacts → Owner responds
But dogs are constantly observing us too.
They notice changes in our posture, breathing, facial expression, movement, and leash handling long before we realize we're giving anything away. Many reactive dog owners develop a routine without even noticing it. They spot another dog, tighten the leash, hold their breath, brace for impact, and start anticipating trouble.
The dog notices every one of those changes.
Eventually the appearance of another dog predicts tension. The tension predicts trouble. And trouble predicts reactive behavior.
Not because the owner is causing the problem, but because they're participating in it.
The Good News
This is actually wonderful news.
If your behavior affects your dog, then changing your behavior can help change your dog's behavior too.
You have more influence than you think.
The next time you see another dog approaching, take a breath. Relax your shoulders. Loosen the leash. Smile. Ask your dog for a simple behavior and reward generously.
Then pay attention—not to your dog, but to yourself.
What are you expecting?
Are you preparing for disaster?
Or are you preparing for success?
Many reactive dogs improve dramatically when their owners stop treating every passing dog as a crisis and start becoming the calmest, most predictable part of the environment.
The goal isn't to pretend reactivity doesn't exist.
The goal is to become part of the solution.
When another dog appears, your dog should think:
"Wonderful. My human is about to shower me with love."
Not:
"Uh oh. Here comes trouble."
That shift alone can change everything.
Learn How to Help Your Dog Look to You Instead of the Trigger
The Reactive Dog Toolkit contains step-by-step exercises that teach dogs and owners how to stay calm, focused, and successful around common triggers.
Inside you'll learn:
✓ Why dogs become reactive
✓ How owner behavior influences reactivity
✓ How to teach attention and focus
✓ How to change emotional responses
✓ Step-by-step training plans
✓ The Dog-Dog Reactivity Workshop
✓ Lifetime access
